Carbin Reef and Suyac Island Boat Tour from Sagay – Private Group FAQ

Planning a visit to Carbin Reef and Suyac Island from Sagay City, Negros Occidental? Whether you’re exploring the pristine sandbar of Carbin or enjoying the mangrove walk at Suyac, this guide gives you everything you need to know to book a private boat and guide for your small group.

📍 Where are Carbin Reef and Suyac Island?

Both are located within the Sagay Marine Reserve, one of the Philippines’ largest marine protected areas.

• 🏝️ Carbin Reef is a stunning white sandbar surrounded by crystal-clear waters, ideal for swimming, snorkeling, and relaxing.
• 🌿 Suyac Island is home to ancient mangrove forests and a charming eco-tourism park with bamboo boardwalks, native huts, and local guides.

They are about 20–30 minutes by boat from Sagay port or the Old Sagay wharf.

⛵ What’s included in the private boat and guide package?

A Carbin Reef + Suyac Island boat tour package usually includes:

✅ Private motorized boat charter (round trip, Sagay to Carbin and Suyac)
✅ Licensed local boat crew and guide
✅ Environmental and docking fees assistance
✅ Coordination with local LGU and tourism office

🧂 Note: Meals, entrance fees, and cottage rentals (optional) are not included but can be arranged upon request.

👥 Is the tour available for small groups?

Yes! Some cater to private groups, including small teams or families. For your group of 3 guests, the boat tour is affordable, convenient, and customizable.

💰 How much does it cost for 3 people?

Sample quote for 3 guests:
✅ Private boat: ₱1,800–₱2,200
✅ Local guide fee: ₱300–₱500
✅ Optional add-ons:
– Cottage rental (Carbin): ₱500–₱800
– Entrance/environmental fees: ₱150–₱200 per person

Estimated total: ₱2,100–₱2,500 for 3 guests
(or around ₱700–₱850 per person, all-in depending on final inclusions)

Final cost may vary slightly depending on season, boat availability, and additional requests.

🕒 What’s the best time to go?

• Best months: March to early June (for calm seas)
• Still possible in June–July, but weather is more variable—morning departures are best.
• Boats typically depart as early as 7:00–8:00 AM from Sagay port and return by 2:00–3:00 PM.
• 📋 What should we bring?

We recommend:

🩱 Swimwear, towels, and change of clothes
🧴 Reef-safe sunscreen
📷 Camera or drone
🍱 Packed lunch/snacks (or request packed food in advance)
💧 Drinking water
🩴 Slippers or aqua shoes for Suyac’s mangrove areas

🛥️ Can you help us book only the boat and guide?

Unfortunately, at the moment we do not provide tours in this area but hope the information on this page will help you, some operators listed below. Here are the tours we presently offer.

To confirm your booking, you will usually be asked to send:

1. Group name and contact info
2. Preferred date and time of departure
3. Any special requests (e.g., earlier departure, snorkeling gear, packed meals)

An agent will coordinate your permit registration, boat reservation, and ensure your local guide is ready upon your arrival.

📞 Ready to explore Carbin Reef and Suyac Island?

Book your private boat tour from Sagay today and discover one of Negros Occidental’s best-kept natural gems.

🌐 Online / OTA Operators

• Guide to the Philippines – Offers a Private Tour to Sagay Marine Reserve from Bacolod, ideal for Carbin & Suyac, includes boat, guide, entrance fees, optional cottage — customisable pick-up in Bacolod or Sagay tripadvisor.com+13guidetothephilippines.ph+13misskhae.com+13.
• Klook – Features an “Carbin Reef and Suyac Island-Hopping Tour” with private group options, eco-minded guides, round-trip transfers from Bacolod klook.com.

🛥️ Local Boat & Tour Providers

• Bacolod Rent a Car & Tours – Offers boat charter rates: ₱1,200 for up to 10 persons (Carbin Reef), ₱300 for Suyac Island, plus snorkeling & guide packages m.facebook.com+14dumagueterentacar.com+14misskhae.com+14.
• TravelTayo Car Rental & Tours (Facebook) – Mentioned affordable private boat: ₱2,800 for 3 passengers round‑trip (Carbin + Suyac), roughly ₱1,750 one-way per group m.facebook.com.

🏠 Community‑Based & Family‑Run Tours

• Buhay Dagat Snorkeling Guides Association – Community-run snorkeling and boat services; gear rentals (₱250) and local guide coordination islandhoppinginthephilippines.com+1pinoytravelogue.com+1.
• Sagay City Tourism Office / Community Guides – Official operations via Old Sagay Port; pre-booking required; they manage trips, entrance fees, boat, guide tripadvisor.com+10theawkwardtravelerdotcom.wordpress.com+10dumagueterentacar.com+10.

📌 Comparison Table

✅ Best Options for Your Group of 3

• Fully managed OTA options like Guide to the Philippines or Klook are convenient, secure, and include everything you need.
• Local charters such as Bacolod Rent a Car or TravelTayo offer budget-friendly private boats tailored for small groups.
• Community guides (Buhay Dagat) provide authentic, eco-friendly experience at lower cost, though you’ll need to coordinate entrance/permit separately.
• Sagay Tourism office ensures official permits and reservation security, but requires direct coordination through LGU channels.

Although we do not offer such tours at the moment, focusing more on Palawan for the time being, we hope you found the above information useful and you may contact us for more info.